20 September 2025 · Shift 2

PM eVIDYA PM eVIDYA was launched in 2020 under Atmanirbhar Bharat. It unifies digital, online and on-air education through DIKSHA, SWAYAM Prabha TV channels and radio. Digital India is a broader governance programme, not school-specific. Hence option (c).

BSA 2023 — expert witness The BSA, 2023 replaced the Indian Evidence Act, 1872. It expressly recognises expert opinion — forensic, handwriting, ballistics and digital experts — as relevant evidence. Forensic examination is now mandatory for offences punishable with seven years or more. Hence option (c).

Vindhyan system The Vindhyan system consists largely of sandstone, shale and LIMESTONE. Its limestone feeds the cement industry, and its red sandstone built the Red Fort and Qutub Minar. Coal belongs to the Gondwana system and iron ore to the Dharwar system. Hence option (b).

Puthari — Kodagu Puthari (literally "new rice") is the harvest festival of the Kodava people of Kodagu, Karnataka. The first sheaf is cut amid chants of "Poli Poli Deva", invoking Lord Igguthappa. Karaga is a Bengaluru festival and Pongal belongs to Tamil Nadu. Hence option (b).

Nalanda sculpture (A–R) Nalanda bronzes and stone images show delicate modelling and a strong sense of volume — A is true. This came from blending the Sarnath Gupta idiom with local Bihar workmanship and Central Indian styles — R is true. That very blending is what produced the fine, three-dimensional quality, so R explains A. Hence option (a).

Metta Metta means loving-kindness or benevolence towards all beings. It is the first of the four Brahmaviharas, along with karuna, mudita and upekkha. Samadhi is concentration and vairagya is detachment. Hence option (b).

Football goal height FIFA fixes the goal at 8 feet high and 8 yards wide. 8 feet = 2.44 metres. The width is 7.32 m (24 feet). Hence option (b).

Federal Court 1937 The Act of 1935 provided for a Federal Court, which was set up in 1937 at Delhi. It had one Chief Justice and two other judges, with Sir Maurice Gwyer as the first Chief Justice. It was replaced by the Supreme Court of India in 1950. Hence option (a).

Lotus Mahal The Lotus Mahal at Hampi has arched openings and domed ceilings of Indo-Islamic style over a Dravidian base — correctly stated. The Hazara Rama temple was the ROYAL family’s private shrine. The Mahanavami Dibba was a stone platform with a wooden superstructure, and the sacred centre lay along the NORTH near the river. Hence option (a).

Relay team A relay squad may have six athletes registered, of whom four actually run the legs. The other two act as reserves who may be substituted between rounds. The exchange zone is 20-30 m, the baton weighs at least 50 g and is 28-30 cm long. Hence option (b).

Tiger Triumph 2025 Tiger Triumph is the India-US tri-service amphibious exercise begun in 2019. The 2025 edition focused on humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) together with logistics interoperability under LEMOA. LEMOA lets each side use the other’s bases for supplies and repair. Hence option (d).

'Bonkers!' Natasha Sharma is known for playful, unconventional children’s writing. Bonkers! stands out for its experimental narrative style while carrying social themes. It is neither autobiography nor science fiction. Hence option (c).

KIUG 2025 host Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya is the Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports. He announced Rajasthan as the host of the Khelo India University Games 2025. Anurag Thakur held the sports portfolio in the previous term. Hence option (d).

First Asian Games 1951 The first Asian Games were held in New Delhi in 1951 at the National Stadium, with 11 nations taking part. Japan topped the medal tally and India finished second — B is correct. A names the wrong venue and the wrong number of nations. Hence Only B — option (a).

Union List The Seventh Schedule divides subjects into the Union, State and Concurrent Lists. Defence, foreign affairs, atomic energy, railways and currency are Union List subjects. Only Parliament can legislate on them. Hence option (c).

Generative design Generative design software explores thousands of shapes for a given load and constraint set. It produces optimised, often lattice-like parts that carry the same load with far less material. In a launch vehicle every kilogram saved adds to the payload. Hence option (a).

State funds Article 266 provides for the Consolidated Fund of India and of each State — Statement 1 correct. Article 267 sets up the Contingency Fund of a State, held by the Governor for unforeseen expenditure — Statement 2 correct. Any advance from it must later be recouped with the legislature’s approval. Hence Both — option (c).

Walking on sand By Newton’s third law, walking depends on the ground pushing back on the foot. Loose sand shifts under the foot, so part of the push is wasted and the reaction force is smaller. More muscular effort is therefore needed for the same step. Hence option (b).

Ka Shad Suk Mynsiem Ka Shad Suk Mynsiem is the spring thanksgiving dance of the Khasi tribe of Meghalaya. Men and women in traditional dress dance to drums and flutes to give thanks for a good harvest. Nyishi and Monpa belong to Arunachal Pradesh, Bhutia to Sikkim. Hence option (b).

HDI (A–R) HDI is a composite of three dimensions — health, education and income. Gains in life expectancy and schooling can outweigh a fall in per capita income, lifting the overall index. So R is exactly the reason why A happens. Hence option (a).

Representative good (A–R) Treating output as a single representative good does simplify aggregate analysis — A is true. But goods differ widely in their price elasticity; they certainly do not respond uniformly — R is false. The simplification is an assumption of convenience, not a statement of fact. Hence option (c).

Import substitution Import substitution meant replacing foreign goods with domestic production. High tariffs and import licences protected new Indian industries. The aim was self-reliance, not export promotion or open trade. Hence option (b).

Heavy industry Heavy industries handle bulky raw materials and turn out bulky products. Iron and steel, shipbuilding, heavy machinery and cement are typical examples. Jute and cotton mills are light industries making consumer goods. Hence option (b).

PRITHVI Vigyan Mission PRITHVI (2024) brings together five schemes covering ocean, atmosphere, cryosphere and geoscience research — Statement 1 correct. It strengthens early warning for cyclones, tsunamis and other hazards — Statement 2 correct. It runs under the Ministry of EARTH SCIENCES, not Health — Statement 3 wrong. Hence Only 1 and 2 — option (b).

1991 reforms Facing a balance-of-payments crisis, India took a loan from the International Monetary Fund in 1991. The IMF and World Bank attached structural adjustment conditions — liberalisation, privatisation and globalisation. The WTO itself came into being only in 1995. Hence option (a).